"Inukshuk" Chosen as Name for Inuit Communications Project

The name “Inukshuk” was chosen from among thirty-nine submissions from across the Arctic as part of an ITC competition to determine a name for the ITC communications project that would use the Anik-B satellite.

Inukshuk was selected to reflect the importance of the communications role the stone markers had among Inuit. It was suggested by both David Audlakiak of Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit) and Larry Ussak of Rankin Inlet; both won a trip to Flordia, paid for by ITC and Telesat Canada, to view the launch of the satellite on December 15^th.

The project connected  six Inuit communities across the Northwest Territories allowing them to “see” each other, and exchange information in Inuktitut through broadcasting and teleconferencing. The Naaklavik II project in Northern Quebec was similar in scope.